After mainland Africa, Trump is targeting Madagascar as a new destination for deported migrants.

Mis à jour le 21 May 2026

As tensions surrounding US immigration policy reach a fever pitch, attention is now turning to a new horizon: Madagascar. Donald Trump’s strategy, part of a broader effort to control migration flows expelled from continental Africa, appears to be eyeing the Indian Ocean strait as a potential next step in his immigration policy. Recent developments indicate that after implementing restrictive measures in sub-Saharan Africa, notably through bilateral agreements and outright refusals of entry, the US president is considering Madagascar as a destination for these undocumented migrants deported to various countries around the world, including areas where their management would be easier to control.

The question of where to send deported migrants is not simply a matter of security or diplomatic management. It illustrates a profound shift in the understanding of international responsibilities and solidarity with these vulnerable populations. The disruption of reception programs in Europe and North America, due to route closures and the implementation of restrictive policies, is forcing a redefinition of the geopolitical landscape regarding potential destinations. Madagascar, with its socio-economic challenges, its precarious situation in the face of climate change, and the complex context of its diplomatic relations, is increasingly emerging as a strategic piece in this vast migration puzzle.

The involvement of this island nation, with its population of several million, hinges on a multitude of issues: managing migration flows, preserving its social stability, and the need to increase economic cooperation while avoiding security-related excesses. The new role Trump wishes to assign it must be informed by a precise analysis of the resulting geostrategic, economic, and ethical considerations. This is not simply a geographical shift, but a reinterpretation of international responsibilities in the face of migration crises often presented as intractable. The international community must therefore question this approach: is it an opportunity or a danger for Madagascar and, more broadly, for Africa?

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